Push

Co-authored-by: Copilot <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>

.github/actions/spell-check/expect.txt

@@ -466,13 +466,12 @@ DWMNCRENDERINGCHANGED
 Dwmp
 DWMSENDICONICLIVEPREVIEWBITMAP
 DWMSENDICONICTHUMBNAIL
-DWMWA
-DWMWCP
+dwmwa
+dwmwcp
 DWMWINDOWATTRIBUTE
 DWMWINDOWMAXIMIZEDCHANGE
 DWORDLONG
 dworigin
-DWRITE
 dxgi
 Dxva
 eab
@@ -998,7 +997,6 @@ luid
 lusrmgr
 LVDS
 LWA
-LWIN
 LZero
 MAGTRANSFORM
 makeappx
@@ -1208,7 +1206,6 @@ nonclient
 NONCLIENTMETRICSW
 NONELEVATED
 nonspace
-nonstd
 NOOWNERZORDER
 NOPARENTNOTIFY
 NOPREFIX
@@ -2000,7 +1997,6 @@ valuegenerator
 VARTYPE
 vbcscompiler
 vcamp
-VCENTER
 vcgtq
 VCINSTALLDIR
 vcp
@@ -2038,7 +2034,6 @@ vorrq
 VOS
 vpaddlq
 vqsubq
-VREDRAW
 vreinterpretq
 VSC
 VSCBD

.pipelines/ESRPSigning_core.json

@@ -247,8 +247,6 @@
             "WinUI3Apps\\PowerToys.ShortcutGuide.exe",
             "WinUI3Apps\\PowerToys.ShortcutGuide.dll",
             "WinUI3Apps\\PowerToys.ShortcutGuideModuleInterface.dll",
-            "WinUI3Apps\\PowerToys.ShortcutGuide.IndexYmlGenerator.dll",
-            "WinUI3Apps\\PowerToys.ShortcutGuide.IndexYmlGenerator.exe",
             "WinUI3Apps\\ShortcutGuide.CPPProject.dll",
 
             "PowerToys.ZoomIt.exe",

PowerToys.slnx

@@ -996,10 +996,6 @@
     </Project>
   </Folder>
   <Folder Name="/modules/ShortcutGuide/">
-    <Project Path="src/modules/ShortcutGuide/ShortcutGuide.IndexYmlGenerator/ShortcutGuide.IndexYmlGenerator.csproj">
-      <Platform Solution="*|ARM64" Project="ARM64" />
-      <Platform Solution="*|x64" Project="x64" />
-    </Project>
     <Project Path="src/modules/ShortcutGuide/ShortcutGuide.Ui/ShortcutGuide.Ui.csproj">
       <Platform Solution="*|ARM64" Project="ARM64" />
       <Platform Solution="*|x64" Project="x64" />

doc/devdocs/modules/shortcut_guide.md

@@ -94,11 +94,9 @@ If this method fails, which it will for newer versions of Windows, it falls back
 
 It then enumerates all the button elements inside the selected while skipping such with a same name (which implies the user does not use combining taskbar buttons) and such that do not start with "Appid:" (which are not actual taskbar buttons related to apps, but others like the widgets or the search button).
 
-### [`ShortcutGuide.IndexYmlGenerator`](/src/modules/ShortcutGuide/ShortcutGuide.IndexYmlGenerator/)
+### `ManifestInterpreter.GenerateIndexYmlFile`
 
-This application generates the `index.yml` manifest file.
-
-It is a separate project so that its code can be easier ported to WinGet in the future.
+The `index.yml` manifest file is generated in-process by `ManifestInterpreter.GenerateIndexYmlFile` (in `ShortcutGuide.Ui/Helpers/ManifestInterpreter.cs`), called on a background thread from `Program.Main` before the UI loads. It scans the per-user manifest folder and writes the index used by the navigation/lookup code.
 
 ### [`ShortcutGuideModuleInterface`](/src/modules/ShortcutGuide/ShortcutGuideModuleInterface/ShortcutGuideModuleInterface.vcxproj)
 

src/common/Common.UI.Controls/Backdrops/AlwaysActiveDesktopAcrylicBackdrop.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,103 @@
+// Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation
+// The Microsoft Corporation licenses this file to you under the MIT license.
+// See the LICENSE file in the project root for more information.
+
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using Microsoft.UI.Composition;
+using Microsoft.UI.Composition.SystemBackdrops;
+using Microsoft.UI.Xaml;
+using Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Media;
+
+namespace Microsoft.PowerToys.Common.UI.Controls.Backdrops;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// A <see cref="SystemBackdrop"/> that renders desktop acrylic and stays in
+/// the active visual state even when the hosting window is not activated.
+/// </summary>
+/// <remarks>
+/// The built-in <see cref="DesktopAcrylicBackdrop"/> tracks the host window's
+/// <c>IsInputActive</c> state and falls back to a solid color whenever the
+/// window is not the foreground window. That makes it unusable for transient,
+/// non-activating surfaces such as toasts or popups created with
+/// <c>SW_SHOWNA</c> / <c>WS_EX_TRANSPARENT</c>, where the window is never
+/// activated by design.
+///
+/// This backdrop drives a <see cref="DesktopAcrylicController"/> with a
+/// <see cref="SystemBackdropConfiguration"/> whose <c>IsInputActive</c> is
+/// permanently <see langword="true"/>, so the native acrylic effect is always
+/// rendered.
+/// </remarks>
+public sealed partial class AlwaysActiveDesktopAcrylicBackdrop : SystemBackdrop
+{
+    private readonly Dictionary<ICompositionSupportsSystemBackdrop, BackdropTarget> _targets = new();
+
+    protected override void OnTargetConnected(ICompositionSupportsSystemBackdrop connectedTarget, XamlRoot xamlRoot)
+    {
+        base.OnTargetConnected(connectedTarget, xamlRoot);
+
+        var configuration = new SystemBackdropConfiguration
+        {
+            IsInputActive = true,
+            Theme = ResolveTheme(xamlRoot),
+        };
+
+        var controller = new DesktopAcrylicController();
+        controller.SetSystemBackdropConfiguration(configuration);
+        controller.AddSystemBackdropTarget(connectedTarget);
+
+        var target = new BackdropTarget(controller, configuration, xamlRoot);
+        _targets[connectedTarget] = target;
+
+        if (xamlRoot.Content is FrameworkElement rootElement)
+        {
+            rootElement.ActualThemeChanged += target.OnActualThemeChanged;
+        }
+    }
+
+    protected override void OnTargetDisconnected(ICompositionSupportsSystemBackdrop disconnectedTarget)
+    {
+        base.OnTargetDisconnected(disconnectedTarget);
+
+        if (_targets.Remove(disconnectedTarget, out var target))
+        {
+            if (target.XamlRoot.Content is FrameworkElement rootElement)
+            {
+                rootElement.ActualThemeChanged -= target.OnActualThemeChanged;
+            }
+
+            target.Controller.RemoveSystemBackdropTarget(disconnectedTarget);
+            target.Controller.Dispose();
+        }
+    }
+
+    private static SystemBackdropTheme ResolveTheme(XamlRoot xamlRoot) =>
+        xamlRoot.Content is FrameworkElement rootElement
+            ? rootElement.ActualTheme switch
+            {
+                ElementTheme.Dark => SystemBackdropTheme.Dark,
+                ElementTheme.Light => SystemBackdropTheme.Light,
+                _ => SystemBackdropTheme.Default,
+            }
+            : SystemBackdropTheme.Default;
+
+    private sealed class BackdropTarget
+    {
+        public BackdropTarget(DesktopAcrylicController controller, SystemBackdropConfiguration configuration, XamlRoot xamlRoot)
+        {
+            Controller = controller;
+            Configuration = configuration;
+            XamlRoot = xamlRoot;
+        }
+
+        public DesktopAcrylicController Controller { get; }
+
+        public SystemBackdropConfiguration Configuration { get; }
+
+        public XamlRoot XamlRoot { get; }
+
+        public void OnActualThemeChanged(FrameworkElement sender, object args)
+        {
+            Configuration.Theme = ResolveTheme(XamlRoot);
+        }
+    }
+}

src/common/Common.UI.Controls/Common.UI.Controls.csproj

@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
   <ItemGroup>
     <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.WindowsAppSDK" />
     <PackageReference Include="WinUIEx" />
+    <PackageReference Include="CommunityToolkit.WinUI.Animations" />
     <PackageReference Include="CommunityToolkit.WinUI.Controls.Primitives" />
     <PackageReference Include="CommunityToolkit.WinUI.Extensions" />
     <PackageReference Include="CommunityToolkit.WinUI.Converters" />

src/common/Common.UI.Controls/Controls/TransparentCard/TransparentCard.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+// Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation
+// The Microsoft Corporation licenses this file to you under the MIT license.
+// See the LICENSE file in the project root for more information.
+
+using Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls;
+
+namespace Microsoft.PowerToys.Common.UI.Controls;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// A floating "card" surface for transient PowerToys overlays (toasts,
+/// banners, indicators). Provides the PowerToys-standard chrome — 1 px
+/// border in <c>SurfaceStrokeColorDefaultBrush</c>, 8 px corner radius,
+/// a <c>ThemeShadow</c>, and an always-active desktop acrylic backdrop —
+/// via a default <see cref="Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls.ControlTemplate"/>.
+/// </summary>
+/// <remarks>
+/// Lives inside a <see cref="Window.TransparentWindow"/>. Apps that want a
+/// different look supply their own <c>Style TargetType="TransparentCard"</c>
+/// in resources — the standard WinUI restyle path.
+/// </remarks>
+public sealed partial class TransparentCard : ContentControl
+{
+    public TransparentCard()
+    {
+        DefaultStyleKey = typeof(TransparentCard);
+    }
+}

src/common/Common.UI.Controls/Controls/TransparentCard/TransparentCard.xaml

@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
+<ResourceDictionary
+    xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
+    xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
+    xmlns:backdrops="using:Microsoft.PowerToys.Common.UI.Controls.Backdrops"
+    xmlns:local="using:Microsoft.PowerToys.Common.UI.Controls">
+
+    <Style BasedOn="{StaticResource DefaultTransparentCardStyle}" TargetType="local:TransparentCard" />
+
+    <Style x:Key="DefaultTransparentCardStyle" TargetType="local:TransparentCard">
+        <Setter Property="BorderBrush" Value="{ThemeResource SurfaceStrokeColorDefaultBrush}" />
+        <Setter Property="BorderThickness" Value="1" />
+        <Setter Property="CornerRadius" Value="8" />
+        <Setter Property="IsTabStop" Value="False" />
+        <Setter Property="HorizontalContentAlignment" Value="Stretch" />
+        <Setter Property="VerticalContentAlignment" Value="Stretch" />
+        <Setter Property="Template">
+            <Setter.Value>
+                <ControlTemplate TargetType="local:TransparentCard">
+                    <Grid
+                        BorderBrush="{TemplateBinding BorderBrush}"
+                        BorderThickness="{TemplateBinding BorderThickness}"
+                        CornerRadius="{TemplateBinding CornerRadius}"
+                        Translation="0,0,24">
+                        <Grid.Shadow>
+                            <ThemeShadow />
+                        </Grid.Shadow>
+                        <SystemBackdropElement CornerRadius="{TemplateBinding CornerRadius}">
+                            <SystemBackdropElement.SystemBackdrop>
+                                <backdrops:AlwaysActiveDesktopAcrylicBackdrop />
+                            </SystemBackdropElement.SystemBackdrop>
+                        </SystemBackdropElement>
+                        <ContentPresenter
+                            Padding="{TemplateBinding Padding}"
+                            HorizontalContentAlignment="{TemplateBinding HorizontalContentAlignment}"
+                            VerticalContentAlignment="{TemplateBinding VerticalContentAlignment}"
+                            Content="{TemplateBinding Content}"
+                            ContentTemplate="{TemplateBinding ContentTemplate}" />
+                    </Grid>
+                </ControlTemplate>
+            </Setter.Value>
+        </Setter>
+    </Style>
+
+</ResourceDictionary>

src/common/Common.UI.Controls/Themes/Generic.xaml

@@ -4,5 +4,6 @@
         <ResourceDictionary Source="ms-appx:///PowerToys.Common.UI.Controls/Controls/KeyVisual/KeyCharPresenter.xaml" />
         <ResourceDictionary Source="ms-appx:///PowerToys.Common.UI.Controls/Controls/IsEnabledTextBlock/IsEnabledTextBlock.xaml" />
         <ResourceDictionary Source="ms-appx:///PowerToys.Common.UI.Controls/Controls/ShortcutWithTextLabelControl/ShortcutWithTextLabelControl.xaml" />
+        <ResourceDictionary Source="ms-appx:///PowerToys.Common.UI.Controls/Controls/TransparentCard/TransparentCard.xaml" />
     </ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
 </ResourceDictionary>

src/common/Common.UI.Controls/Window/TransparentWindow.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,289 @@
+// Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation
+// The Microsoft Corporation licenses this file to you under the MIT license.
+// See the LICENSE file in the project root for more information.
+
+using System;
+using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
+using CommunityToolkit.WinUI;
+using CommunityToolkit.WinUI.Animations;
+using Microsoft.UI.Dispatching;
+using Microsoft.UI.Windowing;
+using Microsoft.UI.Xaml;
+using Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Markup;
+using WinUIEx;
+
+namespace Microsoft.PowerToys.Common.UI.Controls.Window;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// Reusable transparent host window for transient overlays
+/// (toasts, banners, indicators) that should not steal foreground.
+/// </summary>
+/// <remarks>
+/// <para>The constructor applies all of the boilerplate that PowerToys overlays
+/// currently hand-roll:</para>
+/// <list type="bullet">
+///   <item>Strip the native frame and caption (<c>WS_THICKFRAME</c> etc.).</item>
+///   <item>Disable the Win11 1-pixel DWM border and corner rounding.</item>
+///   <item>Mark the window as a tool window so it stays out of the taskbar and Alt-Tab.</item>
+///   <item>Extend content into the title bar and collapse the title bar.</item>
+/// </list>
+/// <para>The visible chrome (acrylic + border + corner radius + shadow) lives
+/// in a <see cref="TransparentCard"/> that the constructor assigns to
+/// <see cref="Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Window.Content"/>. Consumers supply their own
+/// UI via <see cref="InnerContent"/> — which is the XAML default-content slot
+/// thanks to <see cref="ContentPropertyAttribute"/> — so a derived window can
+/// be written as <c>&lt;common:TransparentWindow&gt;&lt;TextBlock/&gt;&lt;/common:TransparentWindow&gt;</c>.</para>
+/// <para>Transparency is achieved with a <see cref="TransparentTintBackdrop"/>
+/// system backdrop so the area outside the <see cref="TransparentCard"/> is
+/// fully see-through. That buffer area is NOT click-through, so consumers
+/// should keep it as small as possible (just enough to give the card's
+/// shadow + slide animation room to breathe — roughly 24 px on each side).</para>
+/// <para><see cref="Show"/> and <see cref="Hide"/> coordinate <c>SW_SHOWNA</c>
+/// (no-activate), the <see cref="Microsoft.UI.Xaml.UIElement.Visibility"/>
+/// toggle on the card, and a debounced
+/// <see cref="Microsoft.UI.Windowing.AppWindow.Hide"/> sized from the longest
+/// animation in <see cref="HideAnimations"/>. Animations target the card so
+/// the entire surface (border, acrylic, shadow, inner content) slides as one.</para>
+/// </remarks>
+[ContentProperty(Name = nameof(InnerContent))]
+public partial class TransparentWindow : WinUIEx.WindowEx
+{
+    private const uint DwmwaColorNone = 0xFFFFFFFE;
+    private const int DwmwaWindowCornerPreference = 33;
+    private const int DwmwaBorderColor = 34;
+    private const int DwmwcpDoNotRound = 1;
+
+    private const int GwlExStyle = -20;
+    private const int WsExToolWindow = 0x00000080;
+
+    private const int SwShowNa = 8;
+
+    private readonly DispatcherQueueTimer _hideCloseTimer = DispatcherQueue.GetForCurrentThread().CreateTimer();
+    private readonly nint _hwnd;
+    private readonly TransparentCard _card;
+
+    private ImplicitAnimationSet _showAnimations;
+    private ImplicitAnimationSet _hideAnimations;
+
+    public TransparentWindow()
+    {
+        AppWindow.Hide();
+        ExtendsContentIntoTitleBar = true;
+
+        _hwnd = WinRT.Interop.WindowNative.GetWindowHandle(this);
+
+        HwndExtensions.ToggleWindowStyle(_hwnd, false, WindowStyle.TiledWindow);
+
+        unsafe
+        {
+            uint borderColor = DwmwaColorNone;
+            _ = DwmSetWindowAttribute(_hwnd, DwmwaBorderColor, &borderColor, sizeof(uint));
+
+            int cornerPref = DwmwcpDoNotRound;
+            _ = DwmSetWindowAttribute(_hwnd, DwmwaWindowCornerPreference, &cornerPref, sizeof(int));
+        }
+
+        ApplyExStyleBit(WsExToolWindow, true);
+
+        _showAnimations = BuildDefaultShowAnimations();
+        _hideAnimations = BuildDefaultHideAnimations();
+
+        _card = new TransparentCard();
+        Content = _card;
+
+        SystemBackdrop = new TransparentTintBackdrop();
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Gets the <see cref="TransparentCard"/> that provides the window's
+    /// visible chrome (acrylic + border + shadow). Consumers can configure
+    /// its layout (e.g. <c>HorizontalAlignment</c>, <c>VerticalAlignment</c>,
+    /// <c>MaxWidth</c>, <c>Margin</c>) to position the card inside the
+    /// window, or apply a custom <c>Style</c> to change its look.
+    /// </summary>
+    public TransparentCard Card => _card;
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Gets or sets the visual hosted inside the window's
+    /// <see cref="TransparentCard"/>. This is the XAML default-content slot:
+    /// child elements declared between the opening and closing
+    /// <c>TransparentWindow</c> tags in a derived .xaml are routed here.
+    /// </summary>
+    public object? InnerContent
+    {
+        get => _card.Content;
+        set => _card.Content = value;
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Gets or sets the animations played against
+    /// <see cref="Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Window.Content"/> when <see cref="Show"/>
+    /// flips it to <see cref="Visibility.Visible"/>. Defaults to a 200 ms
+    /// fade-in plus a 250 ms slide-up of 24 px.
+    /// </summary>
+    public ImplicitAnimationSet ShowAnimations
+    {
+        get => _showAnimations;
+        set => _showAnimations = value ?? new ImplicitAnimationSet();
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Gets or sets the animations played against
+    /// <see cref="Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Window.Content"/> when <see cref="Hide"/>
+    /// flips it to <see cref="Visibility.Collapsed"/>. Defaults to a 180 ms
+    /// fade-out plus a 180 ms slide-down of 12 px.
+    /// </summary>
+    public ImplicitAnimationSet HideAnimations
+    {
+        get => _hideAnimations;
+        set => _hideAnimations = value ?? new ImplicitAnimationSet();
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Shows the window without activation (<c>SW_SHOWNA</c>) and flips
+    /// <see cref="Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Window.Content"/> to
+    /// <see cref="Visibility.Visible"/> so <see cref="ShowAnimations"/> plays.
+    /// Repeated calls reset the content to its hidden pose first so the show
+    /// animation re-triggers cleanly. Any pending hide is cancelled.
+    /// </summary>
+    public void Show()
+    {
+        DispatcherQueue.TryEnqueue(
+            DispatcherQueuePriority.Low,
+            () =>
+            {
+                _hideCloseTimer.Stop();
+
+                if (Content is UIElement content)
+                {
+                    // Re-apply each call so swapping animation collections at
+                    // runtime takes effect on the next show/hide cycle.
+                    Implicit.SetShowAnimations(content, _showAnimations);
+                    Implicit.SetHideAnimations(content, _hideAnimations);
+
+                    // Reset to the hidden pose so the show animation always
+                    // animates from the configured starting frame.
+                    content.Visibility = Visibility.Collapsed;
+                }
+
+                _ = ShowWindow(_hwnd, SwShowNa);
+
+                if (Content is UIElement c2)
+                {
+                    c2.Visibility = Visibility.Visible;
+                }
+            });
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Flips <see cref="Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Window.Content"/> to
+    /// <see cref="Visibility.Collapsed"/> so <see cref="HideAnimations"/>
+    /// plays, then hides the underlying
+    /// <see cref="Microsoft.UI.Windowing.AppWindow"/> once the longest
+    /// animation in <see cref="HideAnimations"/> (delay + duration) has
+    /// completed.
+    /// </summary>
+    public void Hide()
+    {
+        DispatcherQueue.TryEnqueue(
+            DispatcherQueuePriority.Low,
+            () =>
+            {
+                if (Content is UIElement content)
+                {
+                    content.Visibility = Visibility.Collapsed;
+                }
+
+                _hideCloseTimer.Debounce(
+                    AppWindow.Hide,
+                    interval: GetAnimationSetTotalDuration(_hideAnimations),
+                    immediate: false);
+            });
+    }
+
+    private static TimeSpan GetAnimationSetTotalDuration(ImplicitAnimationSet set)
+    {
+        TimeSpan longest = TimeSpan.Zero;
+        foreach (var animation in set)
+        {
+            if (animation is Animation anim)
+            {
+                var total = (anim.Delay ?? TimeSpan.Zero) + (anim.Duration ?? TimeSpan.Zero);
+                if (total > longest)
+                {
+                    longest = total;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        return longest;
+    }
+
+    private void ApplyExStyleBit(int bit, bool set)
+    {
+        if (_hwnd == 0)
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        nint exStyle = GetWindowLongPtr(_hwnd, GwlExStyle);
+        nint updated = set ? exStyle | bit : exStyle & ~(nint)bit;
+        if (updated != exStyle)
+        {
+            _ = SetWindowLongPtr(_hwnd, GwlExStyle, updated);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private static ImplicitAnimationSet BuildDefaultShowAnimations() => new()
+    {
+        new OpacityAnimation
+        {
+            From = 0,
+            To = 1.0,
+            Duration = TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(200),
+            EasingMode = Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Media.Animation.EasingMode.EaseOut,
+            EasingType = EasingType.Cubic,
+        },
+        new TranslationAnimation
+        {
+            From = "0,24,32",
+            To = "0,0,32",
+            Duration = TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(250),
+            EasingMode = Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Media.Animation.EasingMode.EaseOut,
+            EasingType = EasingType.Cubic,
+        },
+    };
+
+    private static ImplicitAnimationSet BuildDefaultHideAnimations() => new()
+    {
+        new OpacityAnimation
+        {
+            From = 1.0,
+            To = 0,
+            Duration = TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(180),
+            EasingMode = Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Media.Animation.EasingMode.EaseIn,
+            EasingType = EasingType.Cubic,
+        },
+        new TranslationAnimation
+        {
+            From = "0,0,32",
+            To = "0,12,32",
+            Duration = TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(180),
+            EasingMode = Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Media.Animation.EasingMode.EaseIn,
+            EasingType = EasingType.Cubic,
+        },
+    };
+
+    [LibraryImport("user32.dll", EntryPoint = "GetWindowLongPtrW")]
+    private static partial nint GetWindowLongPtr(nint hWnd, int nIndex);
+
+    [LibraryImport("user32.dll", EntryPoint = "SetWindowLongPtrW")]
+    private static partial nint SetWindowLongPtr(nint hWnd, int nIndex, nint dwNewLong);
+
+    [LibraryImport("user32.dll")]
+    [return: MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)]
+    private static partial bool ShowWindow(nint hWnd, int nCmdShow);
+
+    [LibraryImport("dwmapi.dll")]
+    private static unsafe partial int DwmSetWindowAttribute(nint hwnd, int dwAttribute, void* pvAttribute, int cbAttribute);
+}

src/modules/ShortcutGuide/ShortcutGuide.IndexYmlGenerator/IndexYmlGenerator.cs

@@ -1,68 +0,0 @@
-// Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation
-// The Microsoft Corporation licenses this file to you under the MIT license.
-// See the LICENSE file in the project root for more information.
-
-using System.Collections.Generic;
-using System.IO;
-using System.Linq;
-using ShortcutGuide.Helpers;
-using ShortcutGuide.Models;
-using YamlDotNet.Serialization;
-
-// This class should be moved to WinGet in the future
-namespace ShortcutGuide.IndexYmlGenerator
-{
-    public class IndexYmlGenerator
-    {
-        public static void Main()
-        {
-            CreateIndexYmlFile();
-        }
-
-        // Todo: Exception handling
-        public static void CreateIndexYmlFile()
-        {
-            string path = ManifestInterpreter.PathOfManifestFiles;
-            if (File.Exists(Path.Combine(path, "index.yml")))
-            {
-                File.Delete(Path.Combine(path, "index.yml"));
-            }
-
-            IndexFile indexFile = new() { };
-            Dictionary<(string WindowFilter, bool BackgroundProcess), List<string>> processes = [];
-
-            foreach (string file in Directory.EnumerateFiles(path, "*.yml"))
-            {
-                string content = File.ReadAllText(file);
-                Deserializer deserializer = new();
-                ShortcutFile shortcutFile = deserializer.Deserialize<ShortcutFile>(content);
-                if (processes.TryGetValue((shortcutFile.WindowFilter, shortcutFile.BackgroundProcess), out List<string>? apps))
-                {
-                    if (apps.Contains(shortcutFile.PackageName))
-                    {
-                        continue;
-                    }
-
-                    apps.Add(shortcutFile.PackageName);
-                    continue;
-                }
-
-                processes[(shortcutFile.WindowFilter, shortcutFile.BackgroundProcess)] = [shortcutFile.PackageName];
-            }
-
-            indexFile.Index = processes.Select(item => new IndexFile.IndexItem
-            {
-                WindowFilter = item.Key.WindowFilter,
-                BackgroundProcess = item.Key.BackgroundProcess,
-                Apps = [.. item.Value],
-            }).ToArray();
-
-            // Todo: Take the default shell name from the settings or environment variable, default to "+WindowsNT.Shell"
-            indexFile.DefaultShellName = "+WindowsNT.Shell";
-
-            Serializer serializer = new();
-            string yamlContent = serializer.Serialize(indexFile);
-            File.WriteAllText(Path.Combine(path, "index.yml"), yamlContent);
-        }
-    }
-}

src/modules/ShortcutGuide/ShortcutGuide.IndexYmlGenerator/ShortcutGuide.IndexYmlGenerator.csproj

@@ -1,24 +0,0 @@
-<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
-  <!-- Look at Directory.Build.props in root for common stuff as well -->
-  <Import Project="..\..\..\Common.Dotnet.CsWinRT.props" />
-  <Import Project="..\..\..\Common.SelfContained.props" />
-
-  <PropertyGroup>
-    <OutputType>WinExe</OutputType>
-    <RootNamespace>ShortcutGuide.IndexYmlGenerator</RootNamespace>
-    <Nullable>enable</Nullable>
-    <AppendTargetFrameworkToOutputPath>false</AppendTargetFrameworkToOutputPath>
-    <AppendRuntimeIdentifierToOutputPath>false</AppendRuntimeIdentifierToOutputPath>
-    <OutputPath>..\..\..\..\$(Platform)\$(Configuration)\WinUI3Apps</OutputPath>
-    <AssemblyName>PowerToys.ShortcutGuide.IndexYmlGenerator</AssemblyName>
-  </PropertyGroup>
-
-  <ItemGroup>
-    <PackageReference Include="YamlDotNet" />
-  </ItemGroup>
-
-  <ItemGroup>
-    <ProjectReference Include="..\ShortcutGuide.Ui\ShortcutGuide.Ui.csproj" />
-  </ItemGroup>
-
-</Project>

src/modules/ShortcutGuide/ShortcutGuide.Ui/Helpers/ManifestInterpreter.cs

@@ -68,6 +68,65 @@ namespace ShortcutGuide.Helpers
         private static IndexFile? cachedIndexFile;
         private static DateTime cachedIndexLastWriteTimeUtc;
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Scans the per-user manifest folder and (re)writes <c>index.yml</c>,
+        /// which maps window filters / background-process flags to the list of
+        /// app manifest IDs that match. Runs in-process; safe to call from a
+        /// background thread.
+        /// </summary>
+        public static void GenerateIndexYmlFile()
+        {
+            string path = PathOfManifestFiles;
+            string indexPath = Path.Combine(path, "index.yml");
+
+            if (File.Exists(indexPath))
+            {
+                File.Delete(indexPath);
+            }
+
+            IndexFile indexFile = default;
+            Dictionary<(string WindowFilter, bool BackgroundProcess), List<string>> processes = [];
+
+            foreach (string file in Directory.EnumerateFiles(path, "*.yml"))
+            {
+                string content = File.ReadAllText(file);
+                Deserializer deserializer = new();
+                ShortcutFile shortcutFile = deserializer.Deserialize<ShortcutFile>(content);
+                if (processes.TryGetValue((shortcutFile.WindowFilter, shortcutFile.BackgroundProcess), out List<string>? apps))
+                {
+                    if (apps.Contains(shortcutFile.PackageName))
+                    {
+                        continue;
+                    }
+
+                    apps.Add(shortcutFile.PackageName);
+                    continue;
+                }
+
+                processes[(shortcutFile.WindowFilter, shortcutFile.BackgroundProcess)] = [shortcutFile.PackageName];
+            }
+
+            indexFile.Index = processes.Select(item => new IndexFile.IndexItem
+            {
+                WindowFilter = item.Key.WindowFilter,
+                BackgroundProcess = item.Key.BackgroundProcess,
+                Apps = [.. item.Value],
+            }).ToArray();
+
+            // Todo: Take the default shell name from the settings or environment variable, default to "+WindowsNT.Shell"
+            indexFile.DefaultShellName = "+WindowsNT.Shell";
+
+            Serializer serializer = new();
+            File.WriteAllText(indexPath, serializer.Serialize(indexFile));
+
+            // Invalidate the cache so subsequent reads pick up the fresh index.
+            lock (IndexLock)
+            {
+                cachedIndexFile = null;
+                cachedIndexLastWriteTimeUtc = default;
+            }
+        }
+
         /// <summary>
         /// Retrieves the index YAML file that contains the list of all applications and their shortcuts from the cache.
         /// </summary>
@@ -102,15 +161,21 @@ namespace ShortcutGuide.Helpers
         /// <summary>
         /// Retrieves all application IDs that should be displayed, based on the foreground window and background processes.
         /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="foregroundWindow">
+        /// HWND of the window to treat as the active foreground app. Pass the
+        /// value captured at Shortcut Guide startup so we match the user's
+        /// target app and not the Shortcut Guide window itself. If <c>0</c>,
+        /// the current foreground window is queried (legacy behavior).
+        /// </param>
         /// <returns>
         /// A dictionary mapping each application ID to the full path of the executable
         /// that caused the match (used for icon extraction), or <c>null</c> when no
         /// specific executable is associated (for example, wildcard filters like the
         /// default shell).
         /// </returns>
-        public static Dictionary<string, string?> GetAllCurrentApplicationIds()
+        public static Dictionary<string, string?> GetAllCurrentApplicationIds(nint foregroundWindow = 0)
         {
-            nint handle = NativeMethods.GetForegroundWindow();
+            nint handle = foregroundWindow != 0 ? foregroundWindow : NativeMethods.GetForegroundWindow();
 
             Dictionary<string, string?> applicationIds = new(StringComparer.Ordinal);
 

src/modules/ShortcutGuide/ShortcutGuide.Ui/Program.cs

@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 // See the LICENSE file in the project root for more information.
 
 using System;
-using System.Diagnostics;
 using System.IO;
 using System.Threading;
 using ManagedCommon;
@@ -21,9 +20,20 @@ namespace ShortcutGuide
     {
         public static Thread CopyAndIndexGenerationThread { get; private set; } = null!;
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// HWND of the window that was in the foreground when the Shortcut Guide
+        /// process started. Captured before any SG window is shown so that
+        /// shortcut lookup matches the user's target app and not SG itself.
+        /// </summary>
+        public static nint OriginalForegroundWindow { get; private set; }
+
         [STAThread]
         public static void Main(string[] args)
         {
+            // Capture the foreground window FIRST, before logger init or any
+            // other work that might run a message pump and let focus shift.
+            OriginalForegroundWindow = NativeMethods.GetForegroundWindow();
+
             Logger.InitializeLogger("\\ShortcutGuide\\Logs");
 
             // The module interface passes: <powertoys_pid> [telemetry]
@@ -71,31 +81,13 @@ namespace ShortcutGuide
                     Logger.LogError($"Failed to copy bundled shortcut manifests from '{sourceManifestFolder}'.", ex);
                 }
 
-                string indexGeneratorPath = Path.Combine(
-                    Path.GetDirectoryName(Environment.ProcessPath)!,
-                    "PowerToys.ShortcutGuide.IndexYmlGenerator.exe");
-
                 try
                 {
-                    using Process? indexGeneration = Process.Start(indexGeneratorPath);
-
-                    if (indexGeneration is null)
-                    {
-                        Logger.LogError($"Failed to start index generation process '{indexGeneratorPath}'.");
-                        return;
-                    }
-
-                    indexGeneration.WaitForExit();
-
-                    if (indexGeneration.ExitCode != 0)
-                    {
-                        Logger.LogError($"Index generation failed with exit code {indexGeneration.ExitCode}. There may be a corrupt shortcuts file in \"{ManifestInterpreter.PathOfManifestFiles}\".");
-                        return;
-                    }
+                    ManifestInterpreter.GenerateIndexYmlFile();
                 }
                 catch (Exception ex)
                 {
-                    Logger.LogError($"Failed to start or wait for index generation process '{indexGeneratorPath}'.", ex);
+                    Logger.LogError($"Index generation failed. There may be a corrupt shortcuts file in \"{ManifestInterpreter.PathOfManifestFiles}\".", ex);
                     return;
                 }
 

src/modules/ShortcutGuide/ShortcutGuide.Ui/ShortcutGuide.Ui.csproj

@@ -100,6 +100,7 @@
   </ItemGroup>
   <ItemGroup>
     <ProjectReference Include="..\..\..\common\Common.UI\Common.UI.csproj" />
+    <ProjectReference Include="..\..\..\common\Common.UI.Controls\Common.UI.Controls.csproj" />
     <ProjectReference Include="..\..\..\common\GPOWrapper\GPOWrapper.vcxproj" />
     <ProjectReference Include="..\..\..\common\ManagedCommon\ManagedCommon.csproj" />
     <ProjectReference Include="..\..\..\common\ManagedTelemetry\Telemetry\ManagedTelemetry.csproj" />

src/modules/ShortcutGuide/ShortcutGuide.Ui/ShortcutGuideXAML/App.xaml.cs

@@ -2,9 +2,11 @@
 // The Microsoft Corporation licenses this file to you under the MIT license.
 // See the LICENSE file in the project root for more information.
 
+using System;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.IO;
 using System.Text.Json;
+using ManagedCommon;
 using Microsoft.PowerToys.Settings.UI.Library;
 using Microsoft.PowerToys.Telemetry;
 using Microsoft.UI.Xaml;
@@ -24,7 +26,10 @@ namespace ShortcutGuide
 
         internal static MainWindow MainWindow { get; private set; } = null!;
 
-        internal static TaskbarWindow TaskBarWindow { get; private set; } = null!;
+        // May remain null if the taskbar overlay window failed to initialize
+        // (e.g. shell automation API failures on some configurations). The
+        // main window must remain usable in that case.
+        internal static TaskbarWindow? TaskBarWindow { get; private set; }
 
         internal static string CurrentAppName { get; set; } = string.Empty;
 
@@ -37,14 +42,25 @@ namespace ShortcutGuide
         {
             this.LoadData();
             MainWindow = new MainWindow();
-            TaskBarWindow = new TaskbarWindow();
+
+            try
+            {
+                TaskBarWindow = new TaskbarWindow();
+            }
+            catch (Exception ex)
+            {
+                // Taskbar overlay is non-critical chrome; keep the main window usable.
+                Logger.LogError("Failed to construct the ShortcutGuide TaskbarWindow; continuing without taskbar overlay.", ex);
+                TaskBarWindow = null;
+            }
+
             MainWindow.Activate();
             MainWindow.Closed += (_, _) =>
             {
                 PowerToysTelemetry.Log.WriteEvent(new ShortcutGuideSessionEvent(
                     MainWindow.SessionDurationMs,
                     MainWindow.CloseType));
-                TaskBarWindow.Close();
+                TaskBarWindow?.Close();
             };
         }
 

src/modules/ShortcutGuide/ShortcutGuide.Ui/ShortcutGuideXAML/Controls/KeyVisual.xaml

@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
         <Setter Property="AutomationProperties.AccessibilityView" Value="Raw" />
         <Setter Property="IsTabStop" Value="False" />
         <Setter Property="MinHeight" Value="16" />
-        <Setter Property="Background" Value="{ThemeResource SubtleFillColorTransparentBrush}" />
+        <Setter Property="Background" Value="{ThemeResource ControlFillColorDefaultBrush}" />
         <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="{ThemeResource TextFillColorPrimaryBrush}" />
         <Setter Property="BorderBrush" Value="{ThemeResource ControlStrokeColorDefaultBrush}" />
         <Setter Property="BorderThickness" Value="1" />

src/modules/ShortcutGuide/ShortcutGuide.Ui/ShortcutGuideXAML/Controls/TaskbarIndicator.xaml

@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
             x:Name="IndicatorRectangle"
             Width="36"
             Height="36"
-            Background="{ThemeResource AcrylicBackgroundFillColorDefaultBrush}"
+            Background="{ThemeResource ControlFillColorDefaultBrush}"
             BorderBrush="{ThemeResource ControlElevationBorderBrush}"
             BorderThickness="1"
             CornerRadius="{StaticResource ControlCornerRadius}">

src/modules/ShortcutGuide/ShortcutGuide.Ui/ShortcutGuideXAML/MainWindow.xaml

@@ -1,70 +1,56 @@
-<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
-<winuiex:WindowEx
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
+<common:TransparentWindow
     x:Class="ShortcutGuide.MainWindow"
     xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
     xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
+    xmlns:common="using:Microsoft.PowerToys.Common.UI.Controls.Window"
     xmlns:d="http://schemas.microsoft.com/expression/blend/2008"
     xmlns:mc="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006"
     xmlns:models="using:ShortcutGuide.Models"
-    xmlns:winuiex="using:WinUIEx"
-    Width="586"
-    IsMaximizable="False"
-    IsMinimizable="False"
-    IsResizable="False"
-    IsShownInSwitchers="False"
+    Width="610"
     mc:Ignorable="d">
-    <winuiex:WindowEx.SystemBackdrop>
-        <DesktopAcrylicBackdrop />
-    </winuiex:WindowEx.SystemBackdrop>
-    <Page x:Name="MainPage">
-        <Grid>
-            <Grid.RowDefinitions>
-                <RowDefinition Height="48" />
-                <RowDefinition Height="*" />
-            </Grid.RowDefinitions>
-            <TitleBar x:Uid="TitleBar">
-                <TitleBar.IconSource>
-                    <ImageIconSource ImageSource="/Assets/ShortcutGuide/ShortcutGuide.ico" />
-                </TitleBar.IconSource>
-            </TitleBar>
+    <Grid x:Name="MainPage" Background="Transparent">
+        <Grid.RowDefinitions>
+            <RowDefinition Height="48" />
+            <RowDefinition Height="*" />
+        </Grid.RowDefinitions>
+        <TitleBar x:Uid="TitleBar">
+            <TitleBar.IconSource>
+                <ImageIconSource ImageSource="/Assets/ShortcutGuide/ShortcutGuide.ico" />
+            </TitleBar.IconSource>
+        </TitleBar>
 
-            <NavigationView
-                x:Name="WindowSelector"
-                Grid.Row="1"
-                IsBackButtonVisible="Collapsed"
-                IsPaneToggleButtonVisible="False"
-                IsSettingsVisible="False"
-                SelectionChanged="WindowSelector_SelectionChanged"
-                Style="{StaticResource RailNavigationViewStyle}">
-                <NavigationView.MenuItems />
-                <NavigationView.FooterMenuItems>
-                    <!--  If footer only has one item, a visual bug can occur. This fake settings button will have set height to zero as soon as the content is loaded  -->
-                    <NavigationViewItem
-                        x:Name="FakeSettingsButton"
-                        Icon="Setting"
-                        SelectsOnInvoked="False"
-                        Tag="Settings"
-                        Tapped="Settings_Tapped" />
-                    <NavigationViewItem
-                        x:Uid="SettingsButton"
-                        Icon="Setting"
-                        SelectsOnInvoked="False"
-                        Tag="Settings"
-                        Tapped="Settings_Tapped" />
-                </NavigationView.FooterMenuItems>
-                <NavigationView.Content>
-                    <Frame
-                        x:Name="ContentFrame"
-                        Background="{ThemeResource LayerFillColorDefaultBrush}"
-                        BorderBrush="{ThemeResource CardStrokeColorDefaultBrush}"
-                        BorderThickness="1,1,0,0"
-                        CornerRadius="8,0,0,0" />
-                </NavigationView.Content>
-                <NavigationView.Resources>
-                    <SolidColorBrush x:Key="NavigationViewContentBackground" Color="Transparent" />
-                    <SolidColorBrush x:Key="NavigationViewContentGridBorderBrush" Color="Transparent" />
-                </NavigationView.Resources>
-            </NavigationView>
-        </Grid>
-    </Page>
-</winuiex:WindowEx>
+        <NavigationView
+            x:Name="WindowSelector"
+            Grid.Row="1"
+            IsBackButtonVisible="Collapsed"
+            IsPaneToggleButtonVisible="False"
+            IsSettingsVisible="False"
+            SelectionChanged="WindowSelector_SelectionChanged"
+            Style="{StaticResource RailNavigationViewStyle}">
+            <NavigationView.MenuItems />
+            <NavigationView.FooterMenuItems>
+                <!--  If footer only has one item, a visual bug can occur. This fake settings button will have set height to zero as soon as the content is loaded  -->
+                <NavigationViewItem
+                    x:Name="FakeSettingsButton"
+                    Icon="Setting"
+                    SelectsOnInvoked="False"
+                    Tag="Settings"
+                    Tapped="Settings_Tapped" />
+                <NavigationViewItem
+                    x:Uid="SettingsButton"
+                    Icon="Setting"
+                    SelectsOnInvoked="False"
+                    Tag="Settings"
+                    Tapped="Settings_Tapped" />
+            </NavigationView.FooterMenuItems>
+            <NavigationView.Content>
+                <Frame x:Name="ContentFrame" Background="Transparent" />
+            </NavigationView.Content>
+            <!--<NavigationView.Resources>
+                <SolidColorBrush x:Key="NavigationViewContentBackground" Color="Transparent" />
+                <SolidColorBrush x:Key="NavigationViewContentGridBorderBrush" Color="Transparent" />
+            </NavigationView.Resources>-->
+        </NavigationView>
+    </Grid>
+</common:TransparentWindow>

src/modules/ShortcutGuide/ShortcutGuide.Ui/ShortcutGuideXAML/MainWindow.xaml.cs

@@ -9,12 +9,17 @@ using System.IO;
 using System.Linq;
 using System.Threading.Tasks;
 using Common.UI;
+using CommunityToolkit.WinUI;
+using CommunityToolkit.WinUI.Animations;
 using ManagedCommon;
+using Microsoft.PowerToys.Common.UI.Controls.Window;
 using Microsoft.PowerToys.Settings.UI.Library;
+using Microsoft.UI.Dispatching;
 using Microsoft.UI.Windowing;
 using Microsoft.UI.Xaml;
 using Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls;
 using Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Input;
+using Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Media.Animation;
 using Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Media.Imaging;
 using ShortcutGuide.Helpers;
 using ShortcutGuide.Models;
@@ -29,14 +34,19 @@ using WinUIEx.Messaging;
 
 namespace ShortcutGuide
 {
-    public sealed partial class MainWindow : WindowEx, IDisposable
+    public sealed partial class MainWindow : TransparentWindow, IDisposable
     {
+        private const int SlideInDurationMs = 280;
+        private const int SlideOutDurationMs = 200;
+
         private readonly Stopwatch _sessionStopwatch = Stopwatch.StartNew();
         private readonly Task<Dictionary<string, string?>> _getAppIdsTask;
+        private readonly Microsoft.UI.Dispatching.DispatcherQueueTimer _slideOutTimer = Microsoft.UI.Dispatching.DispatcherQueue.GetForCurrentThread().CreateTimer();
         private Dictionary<string, string?> _currentApplicationIds = [];
         private ShortcutFile? _shortcutFile;
         private string _selectedAppName = null!;
         private string _closeType = "Unknown";
+        private bool _isClosing;
 
         internal long SessionDurationMs => _sessionStopwatch.ElapsedMilliseconds;
 
@@ -51,16 +61,14 @@ namespace ShortcutGuide
             _getAppIdsTask = Task.Run(() =>
             {
                 Program.CopyAndIndexGenerationThread.Join();
-                _currentApplicationIds = ManifestInterpreter.GetAllCurrentApplicationIds();
+                _currentApplicationIds = ManifestInterpreter.GetAllCurrentApplicationIds(Program.OriginalForegroundWindow);
                 return _currentApplicationIds;
             });
 
             Title = ResourceLoaderInstance.ResourceLoader.GetString("Title")!;
-            ExtendsContentIntoTitleBar = true;
 
 #if !DEBUG
             this.SetIsAlwaysOnTop(true);
-            this.SetIsShownInSwitchers(false);
 #endif
             WindowMessageMonitor msgMonitor = new(this);
             msgMonitor.WindowMessageReceived += (_, e) =>
@@ -81,7 +89,7 @@ namespace ShortcutGuide
                 if (e.Key == VirtualKey.Escape)
                 {
                     _closeType = "Escape";
-                    Close();
+                    SlideOutAndClose();
                 }
             };
 
@@ -102,6 +110,17 @@ namespace ShortcutGuide
                     Logger.LogError("Invalid theme value in settings: " + App.ShortcutGuideProperties.Theme.Value);
                     break;
             }
+
+            // Inset the card from the window edges so the shadow has room to
+            // render and the visible chrome doesn't touch the screen edge.
+            this.Card.Margin = new Thickness(12);
+
+            // Position the window before it's shown so the user doesn't see it
+            // flash at the default location, then attach the slide animations
+            // and start the card collapsed so Activate() triggers the slide-in.
+            this.SetWindowPosition();
+            AttachSlideAnimations();
+            this.Card.Visibility = Visibility.Collapsed;
         }
 
         protected override void OnStateChanged(WindowState state)
@@ -123,7 +142,7 @@ namespace ShortcutGuide
             {
 #if !DEBUG
                 _closeType = "Deactivated";
-                Close();
+                SlideOutAndClose();
 #endif
             }
 
@@ -133,7 +152,6 @@ namespace ShortcutGuide
                 this.BringToFront();
             }
 
-            // The code below sets the position of the window to the center of the monitor, but only if it hasn't been set before.
             if (!this._setPosition)
             {
                 Content.GettingFocus += (_, _) =>
@@ -142,7 +160,6 @@ namespace ShortcutGuide
                     this.FakeSettingsButton.Height = 0;
                 };
 
-                this.SetWindowPosition();
                 this._setPosition = true;
 
                 AppWindow.Changed += (_, a) =>
@@ -154,11 +171,93 @@ namespace ShortcutGuide
 
                     this.SetWindowPosition();
                 };
+
+                // Trigger the slide-in by flipping the card from Collapsed to
+                // Visible; the implicit Show animations attached in the ctor
+                // take it from off-screen to its final position.
+                this.Card.Visibility = Visibility.Visible;
             }
 
             _ = this.InitializeNavItemsAsync();
         }
 
+        private void AttachSlideAnimations()
+        {
+            var windowPosition = (ShortcutGuideWindowPosition)App.ShortcutGuideProperties.WindowPosition.Value;
+
+            // Slide in from off-screen on the same edge the window is pinned to.
+            // Width is in DIPs, which is what TranslationAnimation expects.
+            var offset = windowPosition == ShortcutGuideWindowPosition.Right ? Width : -Width;
+            var offsetString = $"{offset.ToString(System.Globalization.CultureInfo.InvariantCulture)},0,0";
+
+            var showAnimations = new ImplicitAnimationSet
+            {
+                new OpacityAnimation
+                {
+                    From = 0,
+                    To = 1.0,
+                    Duration = TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(SlideInDurationMs),
+                    EasingMode = EasingMode.EaseOut,
+                    EasingType = EasingType.Cubic,
+                },
+                new TranslationAnimation
+                {
+                    From = offsetString,
+                    To = "0,0,0",
+                    Duration = TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(SlideInDurationMs),
+                    EasingMode = EasingMode.EaseOut,
+                    EasingType = EasingType.Cubic,
+                },
+            };
+
+            var hideAnimations = new ImplicitAnimationSet
+            {
+                new OpacityAnimation
+                {
+                    From = 1.0,
+                    To = 0,
+                    Duration = TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(SlideOutDurationMs),
+                    EasingMode = EasingMode.EaseIn,
+                    EasingType = EasingType.Cubic,
+                },
+                new TranslationAnimation
+                {
+                    From = "0,0,0",
+                    To = offsetString,
+                    Duration = TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(SlideOutDurationMs),
+                    EasingMode = EasingMode.EaseIn,
+                    EasingType = EasingType.Cubic,
+                },
+            };
+
+            Implicit.SetShowAnimations(this.Card, showAnimations);
+            Implicit.SetHideAnimations(this.Card, hideAnimations);
+        }
+
+        private void SlideOutAndClose()
+        {
+            if (_isClosing)
+            {
+                return;
+            }
+
+            _isClosing = true;
+
+            // If we never finished the slide-in (e.g. Deactivated fires before
+            // first activation completes), just close immediately.
+            if (!_setPosition || this.Card.Visibility == Visibility.Collapsed)
+            {
+                Close();
+                return;
+            }
+
+            this.Card.Visibility = Visibility.Collapsed;
+            _slideOutTimer.Debounce(
+                Close,
+                interval: TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(SlideOutDurationMs),
+                immediate: false);
+        }
+
         private async Task InitializeNavItemsAsync()
         {
             try
@@ -170,7 +269,7 @@ namespace ShortcutGuide
             {
                 Logger.LogError("Failed to initialize navigation items.", ex);
                 _closeType = "InitializationFailed";
-                this.DispatcherQueue.TryEnqueue(() => this.Close());
+                this.DispatcherQueue.TryEnqueue(() => this.SlideOutAndClose());
             }
         }
 
@@ -236,12 +335,12 @@ namespace ShortcutGuide
             Rect monitorRect = DisplayHelper.GetWorkAreaForDisplayWithWindow(hwnd);
 
             var windowPosition = (ShortcutGuideWindowPosition)App.ShortcutGuideProperties.WindowPosition.Value;
-            var taskbarWindow = App.TaskBarWindow.AppWindow;
-            bool taskbarOnLeft = taskbarWindow.IsVisible && taskbarWindow.Position.X < AppWindow.Position.X + Width && windowPosition == ShortcutGuideWindowPosition.Left;
-            bool taskbarOnRight = taskbarWindow.IsVisible && taskbarWindow.Position.X + taskbarWindow.Size.Width > AppWindow.Position.X && windowPosition == ShortcutGuideWindowPosition.Right;
+            var taskbarWindow = App.TaskBarWindow?.AppWindow;
+            bool taskbarOnLeft = taskbarWindow is not null && taskbarWindow.IsVisible && taskbarWindow.Position.X < AppWindow.Position.X + Width && windowPosition == ShortcutGuideWindowPosition.Left;
+            bool taskbarOnRight = taskbarWindow is not null && taskbarWindow.IsVisible && taskbarWindow.Position.X + taskbarWindow.Size.Width > AppWindow.Position.X && windowPosition == ShortcutGuideWindowPosition.Right;
 
             double newHeight = monitorRect.Height / dpi;
-            if (taskbarOnLeft || taskbarOnRight)
+            if ((taskbarOnLeft || taskbarOnRight) && taskbarWindow is not null)
             {
                 newHeight -= taskbarWindow.Size.Height;
             }
@@ -273,14 +372,14 @@ namespace ShortcutGuide
             App.CurrentAppName = this._selectedAppName;
             this._shortcutFile = ManifestInterpreter.GetShortcutsOfApplication(this._selectedAppName);
 
-            App.TaskBarWindow.Hide();
+            App.TaskBarWindow?.Hide();
             if (this._shortcutFile is ShortcutFile file)
             {
                 // Show the taskbar button window only when the selected app exposes the <TASKBAR1-9> section.
                 if (file.Shortcuts is not null && file.Shortcuts.Any(c => c.SectionName?.StartsWith("<TASKBAR1-9>", StringComparison.Ordinal) == true))
                 {
                     this._taskBarWindowActivated = true;
-                    App.TaskBarWindow.Activate();
+                    App.TaskBarWindow?.Activate();
                 }
 
                 // Reposition before navigating so the taskbar window does not clip into the main window.

src/modules/ShortcutGuide/ShortcutGuide.Ui/ShortcutGuideXAML/TaskbarWindow.xaml

@@ -1,36 +1,32 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
-<winuiex:WindowEx
+<common:TransparentWindow
     x:Class="ShortcutGuide.ShortcutGuideXAML.TaskbarWindow"
     xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
     xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
+    xmlns:common="using:Microsoft.PowerToys.Common.UI.Controls.Window"
     xmlns:d="http://schemas.microsoft.com/expression/blend/2008"
     xmlns:local="using:ShortcutGuide"
     xmlns:mc="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006"
-    xmlns:winuiex="using:WinUIEx"
     Title="TaskbarWindow"
-    Width="600"
-    Height="200"
     IsAlwaysOnTop="True"
     IsMaximizable="False"
     IsMinimizable="False"
     IsResizable="False"
     IsShownInSwitchers="False"
-    IsTitleBarVisible="False"
     mc:Ignorable="d">
 
-    <Window.SystemBackdrop>
-        <DesktopAcrylicBackdrop />
-    </Window.SystemBackdrop>
-
     <Grid>
         <Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
             <ColumnDefinition x:Name="WindowsLogoColumnWidth" Width="68" />
             <ColumnDefinition Width="*" />
         </Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
-        <Canvas x:Name="KeyHolder" Grid.Column="1" />
+        <Canvas
+            x:Name="KeyHolder"
+            Grid.Column="1"
+            Margin="0,4,0,0" />
         <StackPanel
             Margin="8"
-            VerticalAlignment="Top"
+            VerticalAlignment="Center"
             Orientation="Horizontal"
             Spacing="8">
             <Border
@@ -54,4 +50,4 @@
         </StackPanel>
 
     </Grid>
-</winuiex:WindowEx>
+</common:TransparentWindow>

src/modules/ShortcutGuide/ShortcutGuide.Ui/ShortcutGuideXAML/TaskbarWindow.xaml.cs

@@ -4,8 +4,13 @@
 
 using System;
 using System.Globalization;
+using CommunityToolkit.WinUI;
+using CommunityToolkit.WinUI.Animations;
 using ManagedCommon;
+using Microsoft.PowerToys.Common.UI.Controls.Window;
+using Microsoft.UI.Xaml;
 using Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls;
+using Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Media.Animation;
 using ShortcutGuide.Controls;
 using ShortcutGuide.Helpers;
 using Windows.Foundation;
@@ -15,8 +20,18 @@ using static ShortcutGuide.NativeMethods;
 
 namespace ShortcutGuide.ShortcutGuideXAML
 {
-    public sealed partial class TaskbarWindow : WindowEx
+    public sealed partial class TaskbarWindow : TransparentWindow
     {
+        private const int SlideInDurationMs = 240;
+        private const int SlideOutDurationMs = 180;
+
+        // Card padding inside the transparent window so the acrylic chrome's
+        // shadow / corners have room to render. Matches MainWindow.
+        private const double CardMargin = 12;
+
+        // Fallback animation offset until the first measurement-based attach runs.
+        private const double DefaultSlideOffset = 90;
+
         private float DPI => DpiHelper.GetDPIScaleForWindow(WindowNative.GetWindowHandle(this));
 
         private Rect WorkArea => DisplayHelper.GetWorkAreaForDisplayWithWindow(WindowNative.GetWindowHandle(this));
@@ -24,10 +39,65 @@ namespace ShortcutGuide.ShortcutGuideXAML
         public TaskbarWindow()
         {
             this.InitializeComponent();
+
+            this.Card.Margin = new Thickness(CardMargin);
+
+            AttachSlideAnimations(DefaultSlideOffset);
+
             this.UpdateTasklistButtons();
             this.Activated += (_, _) => this.UpdateTasklistButtons();
         }
 
+        private void AttachSlideAnimations(double offsetDips)
+        {
+            // Slide up from below — the numbers window sits just above the
+            // taskbar, so a vertical slide from the bottom edge reads best.
+            var offsetString = $"0,{offsetDips.ToString(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture)},0";
+
+            var showAnimations = new ImplicitAnimationSet
+            {
+                new OpacityAnimation
+                {
+                    From = 0,
+                    To = 1.0,
+                    Duration = TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(SlideInDurationMs),
+                    EasingMode = EasingMode.EaseOut,
+                    EasingType = EasingType.Cubic,
+                },
+                new TranslationAnimation
+                {
+                    From = offsetString,
+                    To = "0,0,0",
+                    Duration = TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(SlideInDurationMs),
+                    EasingMode = EasingMode.EaseOut,
+                    EasingType = EasingType.Cubic,
+                },
+            };
+
+            var hideAnimations = new ImplicitAnimationSet
+            {
+                new OpacityAnimation
+                {
+                    From = 1.0,
+                    To = 0,
+                    Duration = TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(SlideOutDurationMs),
+                    EasingMode = EasingMode.EaseIn,
+                    EasingType = EasingType.Cubic,
+                },
+                new TranslationAnimation
+                {
+                    From = "0,0,0",
+                    To = offsetString,
+                    Duration = TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(SlideOutDurationMs),
+                    EasingMode = EasingMode.EaseIn,
+                    EasingType = EasingType.Cubic,
+                },
+            };
+
+            Implicit.SetShowAnimations(this.Card, showAnimations);
+            Implicit.SetHideAnimations(this.Card, hideAnimations);
+        }
+
         public void UpdateTasklistButtons()
         {
             // This move ensures the window spawns on the same monitor as the main window
@@ -51,8 +121,9 @@ namespace ShortcutGuide.ShortcutGuideXAML
 
             float dpi = this.DPI;
             double windowsLogoColumnWidth = this.WindowsLogoColumnWidth.Width.Value;
-            double windowHeight = 58;
-            double windowMargin = 8 * dpi;
+            double contentHeight = 58;
+            double windowHeight = contentHeight + (2 * CardMargin);
+            double windowMargin = CardMargin * dpi;
             double windowWidth = windowsLogoColumnWidth;
             double xPosition = buttons[0].X - (windowsLogoColumnWidth * dpi);
             double yPosition = this.WorkArea.Bottom - (windowHeight * dpi);
@@ -78,6 +149,10 @@ namespace ShortcutGuide.ShortcutGuideXAML
 
             this.MoveAndResize(xPosition - windowMargin, yPosition, windowWidth + (2 * windowMargin), windowHeight);
             AppWindow.MoveInZOrderAtTop();
+
+            // Re-tune the slide distance to the actual final window height so
+            // the card glides up from just below the visible bottom edge.
+            AttachSlideAnimations(windowHeight);
         }
     }
 }